Beginning sometime later this year, Advanced Micro Devices was expected to launch its 10-core and 20-core Opteron server processors, codenamed Sepang and Terramar, respectively. According to its latest plans, however, the chip giant has decided to cancel these multi-core server chips and will keep its existing server platform for 2012 - 2013 server refreshes.

AMD had previously planned to release its 32nm SOI-based Sepang and Terramar chips along with new G2012 and C2012 server platforms this year, both based on next-generation Bulldozer architecture. The platforms, aimed at dual-socket and quad-socket servers, were designed to introduce PCI-Express 3.0 support to the enterprise industry along with triple-channel memory support for 2P server chips.

The company has instead decided to keep the existing server platform for its 2012 - 2013 server refreshes, which means that AMD-based servers over the next year and a half product cycle will lack PCI-Express 3.0 slots and triple-memory channel support.

AMD's 2012 - 2013 Server Roadmap

When asked why the architectural roadmap changes were made, AMD decided to keep its lips closed regarding particular details. The company has instead claimed that the new lineup "delivers better performance." However, we think the situtation may be due to the fact that 32nm Silicon-On-Insulator process technology is infamously difficult to manufacture without setbacks in the number of good wafer yields that can be produced for server-grade performance and scaling.

An archtecture that is only two years behind its schedule and that we will hopefully see in 2011 codenamed Bulldozer will expand to as many as 20 cores in 2012. This is of course assuming that there won't be any additional delays.

According to AMD officials, the server version of Bulldozer is slated for introduction in the second half of 2011, which means the server part should show up before the end of next year.

The server codename for 2P and 4P enterprise mainstream platform is Interlagos and this Bulldozer based CPU has 8/12 or 16 cores depending on the SKU. It also comes with 4x HT-3 (6.4GT support) as well as quad DDR3 channel support.

The future, or should we say 2012 brings a new codename to the game. Terramar is a next generation CPU based on as many as 20 Bulldozer cores. Sitges-Terramar was the home of Spanish Barcelona (Circuit de Catalonia) F1 track.

The other server part with up to 10 cores based on Bulldozer is codenamed Sepang, also comes in 2012 and it replaces Valencia 6 to 8 bulldozer part scheduled to launch in second half of 2012. Sepang is a home of F1 International circuit also known as Malaysian grand prix.

If you didnt know it by now, AMD Sever team is all about Formula 1, and AMD still sponsors Ferarri team, despite its losses and inability to turn a profit.